Posted on 09/29/2017 12:13:40 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It is time. We knew the luxo-truck onslaught that’s been wreaking havoc across this great nation was going to bring us to this moment. But now, it’s finally here: Ford has thrown down the gauntlet with its new “Super Duty Limited” line, whose crown jewel is an F-450 that can cost over $100,000.
With the Texas State Fair coming up tomorrow, Ford’s new Super Duty Limited line offers Texans three new ways to waste spend their hard-earned cash on Super Duty trucks. They can buy an $80,835 F-250 Super Duty Limited, an $82,010 F-350 Super Duty Limited, or the crème de la crème model, the F-450 Super Duty Limited (all of which are 4x4s).
The big boy in the lineup starts at $87,100, but with all the boxes ticked, that price can reach $94,445. Throw on your state’s 6 or 7 percent sales tax, and you’re hovering right around 100 large.
In its press release, Ford says over half of its Super Duty sales are of Lariat, King Ranch or Platinum trims, so it only makes sense to keep cranking that luxo-truck dial, with Ford Truck Group marketing Manager Todd Eckert saying:
There are heavy-duty truck customers who need Super Duty-level capability and want true luxury...We created this new truck to answer the call for even more premium choices in the Super Duty range as we see more and more truck customers trending to more premium models.
Among the features these premium Limited models offer, are: two-tone heated and vented front leather seats, heated rear seats, premium leather-wrapped steering wheel, suede headliner, hand-finished ash wood trim, a unique grille and tailgate, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, lane-keep alert, forward collision warning, LED headlamps, panoramic moonroof.
As we’ve learned from the Lariats, King Ranches, LTZs and Rubicon Recons of the world, people are totally willing to drop heavy coin on vehicles built on platforms that could have been built in the 1940s. That’s great news for truck companies (these body-on-frame rigs have to be cash cows), and if the buyers are happy, then it’s a win-win, right?
I know it’s tempting for us to laugh at a solid-axled, body-on-frame pickup that pushes six-figures, but there are rich folks out there who make a living by doing honest, hard work. And if they want to treat themselves with a bit of supple leather rubbing against their butt-cheeks, who are we to judge?
I guess you could call me a luxo-truck sympathizer.
I had to put a clutch in mine at about 250,000 due to my poor driving habits but with proper maintenance a million miles is not out of the question.
I did spend about $1000 on the front end, ball joints, tie rods, etc. And a couple glow plugs and glow plug relay. The factory batteries lasted 10 years! Love that PU.
After posting that like to the smugmug gallery, the hit counter went from a hundred or so to a little over a thousand as of this morning.
I was going to change it’s long overdue oil. The first obstacle was a stuck filter that I finally got removed. I shot the base area with Kroil and bumped it with a filter wrench.
There was a new but not unexpected problem. The oil flowed like water and smelled of gasoline. At some point the fuel pump was going to go. It looked ancient.
I had one in a box but the original has a vent line. Mr. search engine found one that has what looks like all the fittings.
It is an elderly quadrajet sitting on top of that 350. I think someone used threadlocking compound. That fitting holding the filter simply would not give. Eventually I got it apart destroying the old fuel line. I have a new one from LMC already.
LMC has an Edelbrock that should go right on. Pricey though. There are remain quads that are a little cheaper.
I had an extra Fram filter that got spun on to cover that filter area. A Baldwin is on hand and was going to be put on anyway.
I had the same problem with the fuel filter on my Explorer. We had two different Ford tube fitting tools. Beat on that thing for probably an hour. We finally gave up. The original is still on there. I need to take it to a mechanic who can put it on a hoist to get enough swing on it to break it loose.
This was part of my fuel pump change. Pain in the butt. Drop the gas tank, etc., etc.
I looked at professor youtube to see about converting over to an electrical fuel pump like I did with my Willys.
That’s more electrical than I care to get into since some the K5’s wiring seems frail in a few places.
I’m guessing a 4 bbl. is going to hit the wallet on payday.
Revamping the fuel system was always in the plan. The cooling system was ahead but takes 2nd place.
I sent this up to youtube from a master clip I just found tucked away on another drive. My half disassembled CJ7 now.
It’s a speed effect with some royalty free music. Originally, it’s three minutes of slowness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1H-zCbNuY
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.